ABOUT THE HOUSE

• Fliss chose an all-white scheme for her kitchen. “I thought if I have a white base I can just add to it,” she says. “I love having big flower arrangements, bowls of fruit, layers of details and textures.” The display shown on the island bench combines Silver Dollar gum with pear tree branches.

• The facia of the island bench features joinery with a V-groove detail to match the original timber panelling appearing elsewhere in the home.

• The kitchen stools are Jok stools from Western Australian company Empire Homewares. “I love the leather seat,” says Fliss. (08) 9754 7492, empirehomewares.com.au

• The wall sconces in the kitchen are the 20th Century Library Single Sconce in Aged Steel, from Restoration Hardware in the US. restorationhardware.com

• Fliss’s Christmas gifts are wrapped in paper designed locally by her friend Alana Bezant, whose business She Eats Paper is based in Busselton, Western Australia. sheeatspaper.com

• The beautiful gum wreath and all flowers are by Busselton florist Cherise Woodhams of De La Terre, 0439 888 828, delaterre.com.au

Fliss and Dave’s cottage is a quintessential farmhouse with a generous verandah and wide shading eaves, set within lawn and established garden, with an old peppermint tree (a species native to this area) out the front. The four-bedroom home was in good condition when they moved in, but they have made changes to suit the needs of their young family. The first things they did were to discard the window coverings and pull up the carpet. “It was carpet I remembered from my childhood,” says Fliss. “When we pulled it up, the original jarrah boards were underneath — worn and imperfect, which is our idea of beautiful!” They revamped the bathrooms and painted throughout. Earlier this year, they put on a new roof, extended the kitchen and dining area, and added a back verandah. They’ve just finished renovating their kitchen to create a social, family-friendly room complete with an island bench where the kids eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, and do their homework.

A few steps from their back door is a beautiful 1880s-era stone horse barn, which they painstakingly restored and converted to create offices at one end and guest accommodation at the other. Both Fliss and Dave operate their businesses from here. “When we lived in Holland, Dave’s commute was one-and-a-half hours each way — now his commute is 50 metres,” she says. It’s a very picturesque HQ for Bahru, which she runs as a one-woman show.

For Fliss, returning to the farm is a lovely case of history repeating. Her children all go to the local primary school that she, her brother and her dad attended. And wherever they venture outside — as they romp around the property climbing trees and playing hide-and-seek, or as they run excitedly to the beach, hurling themselves into the surf

— she watches them following in the footsteps of her own childhood. “It’s pretty special,” she says.

Visit bahru.com.au To read Fliss’s style tips, see page 122.

The view from the back verandah towards the old stables is framed by the arching branches of a Norfolk pine. The conversion of the stables was a lengthy process but resulted in a beautiful workplace for Fliss and Dave. FACING PAGE Jack and Fred edge their way along the stone footings of the stables. The limestone walls were restored by local stonemason Paul Young. The new windows are made from jarrah.

The family’s boot collection lined up in front of an old painted meat safe.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT The hay shed is the kids’ (and Mozzie’s) favourite playground. “They’re banned from here during summer because of the snakes!” says Fliss; Lucy juggles an armful of presents wrapped in paper by She Eats Paper; inspecting the gifts in Fred’s bedroom. The bed is from Incy Interiors and the quilt is from Object Union; the bathroom features timber panelling to match original details elsewhere in the home. For stockists details, see page 138.

Mozzie relaxes on a throw made from Busatti fabric; pillowcases from The White Company. Fliss’s parents bought the antique chest of drawers around 40 years ago. The small painting is by Debbie Mackinnon from Studio Gallery. For stockists details, see page 138.